The Kansas Scholastic Press Association is wrapping up 2025 by celebrating the best writing, photography, multimedia and design work of students entered in the second Quarterly Clips Contest.
Judges reviewed the work of nearly 270 students. Leading the competition was Mill Valley High School with 10 placing entries, followed by Shawnee Mission East with eight awards, and Bishop Miege High School and Blue Valley Southwest High School with seven placing entries each.
We hope you’ll join us again for the Quarter 3 Quarterly Clips Contest. Entries are due Friday, March 6. Submission information is here, and we’re ready to start accepting your work now.
About the contest:
Judges marked each entry with feedback for students to use to improve their work throughout the year. Under a new process, students are competing by school classification with divisions for 1A/2A, 3A/4A and 5A/6A. When the 5A/6A categories were particularly large, they were split into separate divisions. The number of entries awarded for each category fluctuates based on the number of entries and judge preferences. We also asked judges to provide general feedback based on all the entries. Some of that feedback is included below.
Quarter 2 Design Winners
DESIGN: Digital Illustration_5A/6A
1st Place — Emery Kimbrough, Blue Valley West High School
2nd Place — Dani Hufford, Olathe South High School
3rd Place — Francesca Lorusso, Shawnee Mission East
Feedback from the judges: Viewers will instantly know what the elements of illustration represent and how they may interact. The artwork was quality also.
DESIGN: Editorial Cartoon/Cartoon_5A/6A
1st Place — Jordyn Johnson, Blue Valley Northwest
Feedback from the judges: The idea behind the cartoon is essential to the composition of the cartoon. Digital skills are evident.
DESIGN: Infographic Design_5A/6A
1st Place — Oliver Feiring, Mill Valley High School
2nd Place — Lucy Stephens, Shawnee Mission East
Feedback from the judges: Good storytelling makes all the difference. The top placers all told good stories both verbally and visually.
DESIGN: News publication design_5A
1st Place — Claire Thompson, De Soto High School
2nd Place — Natalee Runyan, Kapaun Mt Carmel Catholic High School
DESIGN: News publication design_6A
1st Place — Abbie Veeder, Lawrence Free State High School
2nd Place — Lauren Chonko, Blue Valley North High School
3rd Place — Tessa Sanders, Lawrence High School
4th Place — Elizabeth Puah, Lawrence Free State High School
5th Place — Avery Clement, Mill Valley High School
Feedback from the judges: The pieces that stood out the most had a consistent color scheme, guided the reader’s eye through the page using spacing, text, color and visuals
DESIGN: Yearbook spread design_3A/4A
1st Place — Annie McGuire, Bishop Miege High School
Feedback from the judges: The winning design applies dominance, contrast and internal white space to be a showcase for the topic.
DESIGN: Yearbook spread design_5A
1st Place — Mari Chambers, Blue Valley Southwest High School
2nd Place — Kinsley Ballard, Kaytlin Johnston-Johnson, Goddard High School
3rd Place — Ciara Ceballos, Kapaun Mt Carmel Catholic High School
Feedback from the judges: This was a competitive category, and our winning designs led with design, not decoration.
DESIGN: Yearbook spread design_6A
1st Place — Macy Williams, Shawnee Mission North High School
2nd Place — Mimi Rosado Schmitt, Lawrence High School
3rd Place — Macy Williams, Shawnee Mission North High School
4th Place — Gracie Pollitcia, Alex Powell, Mill Valley High School
Feedback from the judges: The winning design subtly alluded to the theme elements while creating an organized space for various coverage, balancing depth and breadth in an organized manner.
Quarter 2 Multimedia Winners
MULTIMEDIA: Podcast_5A/6A
1st Place — Hailey Blurton, Lance Schafer, Audrey Leen, Maize Career Academy
2nd Place — Taleen Elkhatib, Mill Valley High School
Feedback from the judges: A well-reported story. Each student who spoke seemed prepared and comfortable in front of the mic.
MULTIMEDIA: Social Media_5A/6A
1st Place — Lydia Waldron, Lotus McClure, Shawnee Mission South High School
3rd Place — Kerry Espelien, Delanie Gill, Ally Becton, Blue Valley Southwest High School
4th Place — Finn Bedell, Maddi Roof, Shawnee Mission Northwest
MULTIMEDIA: Multimedia story package_5A/6A
Feedback from the judges: The winners highlighted relevant stories using multiple media elements intentionally to illuminate different sides of the story.
MULTIMEDIA: Video news/feature_3A/4A
1st Place — Paul Fessler, Bishop Miege High School
Feedback from the judges: The short video clip set a appropriate mood with background music and presented two testimonials that were revealing and sincere.
MULTIMEDIA: Video news/feature_5A/6A
1st Place — Elodie Monroe, De Soto High School
2nd Place — Kayla Rawson, Mukta Apte, Blue Valley West High School
3rd Place — Ava Mendez, Mill Valley High School
4th Place — Axsel Guge, Bryan Bonilla, De Soto High School
5th Place — Reagan Doyle, Jordyn Garvey, De Soto High School
Feedback from the judges: A solid all-around promotional video. Informational and attractive graphics, and supportive interviewee statements.
MULTIMEDIA: Video sports news/feature_3A/4A
1st Place — Bradd Beaver, Logan Melvin, Bishop Miege High School
MULTIMEDIA: Video sports news/feature_5A/6A
1st Place — Kohen Dick, Faith Pittenger, Mill Valley High School
2nd Place — Andrew Scheffer, Hailey Blurton, Isaac Fulks, Maize Career Academy
Quarter 2 Photography Winners
PHOTO: Academics_3A/4A
1st Place — Mary Anderson, Bishop Miege High School
PHOTO: Academics_5A/6A
1st Place — Tyler Russell, Shawnee Mission East
2nd Place — Jack Pischke, Shawnee Mission Northwest
3rd Place — Maddy Mullins, Blue Valley West High School
4th Place — Emily Wright, Shawnee Mission Northwest
5th Place — Macey Chaulk, Spring Hill High School
Feedback from the judges: Photographers did an excellent job of capturing storytelling. moments for the academic section.
PHOTO: Environmental Portrait_1A/2A
1st Place — Sidney Brooks, Inman High School
PHOTO: Environmental Portrait_5A/6A
1st Place — Cody Arenholz, Olathe South High School
PHOTO: Feature_1A/2A
1st Place — Bostyn Short, Inman High School
PHOTO: Feature_5A
1st Place — Svea Kemp, Blue Valley Southwest High School
2nd Place — Callie Tess, Blue Valley Southwest High School
PHOTO: Feature_6A
1st Place — Nathan Kramer, Lawrence Free State High School
2nd Place — Logan Wallace, Shawnee Mission North High School
3rd Place — Lucy Wilson, Shawnee Mission Northwest
4th Place — Isaac Fulks, Maize Career Academy
5th Place — Tae Tran, Blue Valley North High School
PHOTO: Photo Gallery_5A/6A
1st Place — Alex Powell, Mill Valley High School
2nd Place — Kaia Bach, Newton High School
Feedback from the judges: The two placing entrants did the best job of telling a story not only through captions but through a well-selected variety of images.
PHOTO: Sports_1A/2A
1st Place — Sidney Brooks, Inman High School
PHOTO: Sports_3A/4A
1st Place — Megan Ball, Bishop Miege High School
2nd Place — Graci Hanson, Riley County High School – USD 378
3rd Place — Graci Hanson, Riley County High School – USD 378
Feedback from the judges: The winner was the best combination of compelling photo and excellent story. I think photographers need to focus on finding moments that tell stories, not just strong images.
PHOTO: Sports_5A
1st Place — Anthony Lujano, Kapaun Mt Carmel Catholic High School
2nd Place — Lily Boggs, De Soto High School
3rd Place — Athena Mah, Goddard High School
4th Place — Ally Becton, Blue Valley Southwest High School
Feedback from the judges: The best photos here told stories visually and with their captions. It’s important to tell the whole story.
PHOTO: Sports_6A
1st Place — Lexa Opp, Blue Valley West High School
2nd Place — Piper Journey, Lawrence High School
3rd Place — Sophie Debes, Maize High School
4th Place — Dylan Becerra Vzaquez, Olathe East
5th Place — Addie Clark, Shawnee Mission East
Feedback from the judges: The best images here not only found great moments, but told great stories with their writing. It’s about the entire package and all the layers of storytelling.
Quarter 2 Writing Winners
WRITING: Features_5A
1st Place — Hannah LaCroix, Kerry Espelien, Blue Valley Southwest High School
2nd Place — Makaelyn Davis, Newton High School
3rd Place — Kayley Tran, Spring Hill High School
Feedback from the judges: Our winner starts with a narrative lead — the micro — with a supporting direct quote.
WRITING: Features_6A
1st Place — Christopher Long, Shawnee Mission East
2nd Place — Kayla Chege, Shawnee Mission Northwest
3rd Place — Josh Sopha, Xavier Bitter, Olathe South High School
4th Place — Hailey Heckman, Adria Heinauer, Blue Valley Northwest
5th Place — Ashlyn Tell, Lawrence High School
Feedback from the judges: The winner made excellent use of short and very short paragraphs, and repetition for emphasis.
WRITING: News_5A/6A
1st Place — Mya Franco, Cal Bierl, Mill Valley High School
2nd Place — Maddy Mullins, Blue Valley West High School
3rd Place — Grace Mosconi, Penny Coleman, Lawrence Free State High School
Feedback from the judges: The top stories used multiple sources.
WRITING: Opinion (Editorials, Columns or Reviews)_5A/6A
1st Place — Dovie Bowers, Kapaun Mt Carmel Catholic High School
2nd Place — Editorial Staff, Shawnee Mission East
3rd Place — Beckett Hodes, Blue Valley High School
4th Place — Maddie Hellerich, De Soto High School
5th Place — Danielle Croom, Blue Valley Northwest
WRITING: Sports (newspaper or yearbook)_3A/4A
1st Place — Laina Vossen, Bishop Miege High School
Feedback from the judges: The story flowed well and showed the adversity the team faced and overcame during the season.
WRITING: Sports (newspaper or yearbook)_5A/6A
1st Place — Juliet Outka, Lawrence High School
2nd Place — Grace Pei, Shawnee Mission East
3rd Place — Callie Tess, Blue Valley Southwest High School
4th Place — James Guyer, Kapaun Mt Carmel Catholic High School
5th Place — Chloe Hocker, Kapaun Mt Carmel Catholic High School
5th Place — Cal Bierl, Mill Valley High School
Feedback from the judges: The top story was professional quality. All of the top stories included outstanding descriptions and captured emotion.
WRITING: Yearbook Copy_3A/4A
1st Place — Frankie Brewington, Bishop Miege High School
WRITING: Yearbook Copy_5A/6A
1st Place — Zoei Williams, Shawnee Mission Northwest
2nd Place — Joselyn Contreras Ballesteros, Shawnee Mission North High School
3rd Place — Lucas Sherwood, Lawrence Free State High School
Feedback from the judges: I loved the lead the winner wrote. It pulled me into the story immediately and feels very realistic. One piece of advice would be for students to not spoil the quote by writing in the transition exactly what is about the be said in the quote. I noticed that several times throughout the entries!